Monday, May 30, 2005

A Common Foe

1. It's a typical example of winger whining that anyone who keeps them from
getting 100% of what they want is an enemy of (their vision of) America.

2. That one of the wingers biggest enemies is the same one that many on the
progressive side hate: the Washington establishment.

The second sure thing is that the seven Republicans who
went against their party are the toast of the Washington establishment. Last
Monday night, they came out of the negotiations beaming. And why shouldn't
they? They are now being hailed as profiles in courage, prepared to put
principle ahead of (Republican) party. We will soon see glowing stories in
the mainstream press about how they have grown in office. (In Washington
parlance, the dictionary definition of "to grow" is "to move left.") After
that, the dinner-party circuit, fawning articles about their newfound
stature and coveted slots on the Sunday morning talk shows.

Of course, Krauthammer makes the laughable suggestion that the way to win the
hearts of the Washington establishment is to "move left". But many on the left
make same mistake in assuming that the establishment favors those who "move
right".

The establishment is neither left or right. It is not ideological in nature.
It is simply out for whatever makes itself appear to be superior to the rest of
the rabble (both left and right).

The establishment considers itself to be the guardians of The Way. They
exist, in their own minds, to protect the country from the rest of us who might
have a different conception of how things ought to work. They are superior
because of their position and they hold their position because they are
superior. The Washington establishment is the true center of elitism in this
country (and Krauthammer is a lot closer to it than he would ever admit) and
nothing is more important to them then protecting their position of privilege.

I disagree with pretty much everything else Krauthammer wrote in his column,
but I find it eerie how his criticism of the establishment echoes the bitterness
and frustration I hear in left-wing circles.